Crescent shaped cosmetic brush

ABSTRACT

A cosmetic brush of any size having a handle connected to a ferrule, the ferrule containing a brush head having a flat top surface, and which brush head is impinged upon by a specifically defined ferrule or portion thereof to create a crescent shaped brush head having fewer bristles at its terminii than in the balance of the brush head. The top or upper surface of the brush head is flat. The brushhead may be detachable from the handle.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved makeup applicator brush. More specifically the invention relates to a an arcuate in cross section makeup brush which has a flat tuft top surface. The brush is intended to conform to the curved surfaces of the cheek, chin and eyes for the application of an appropriate cosmetic. The brush has various designated widths from 0.5 inches to about 1.25 inches in width.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Makeup brushes which have a plurality of bristles or hairs as they are called are used worldwide to apply base makeup, finishing makeup and for periodic touch ups, such as after eating. Brushes can be classified by their intended use, such as but not limited to those used to apply cosmetics to the ace and cheeks, eyeshadow brushes, eyelid brushes etc. Makeup brushes are used not only by the consuming public, but also by makeup artists and photographers, as well as beauty professionals.

When one uses a makeup brush, it is easy to apply cosmetic to only parts of the face to highlight only certain areas while avoiding other areas. This permits the creation of a more natural look and at the same time avoids the appearance of being heavily made-up.

Conventional fan shape or angular or filbert (which has a thick ferrule and hairs that are, on average, medium to long hairs in the shape of an oval) brushes are highly inefficient for the application of facial makeup. They either apply too much or too little makeup to the desired area of the face, or neck. Sometimes the user may even skip an area or contour of the face while trying to avoid over application of a cosmetic.

Most of the patents in the makeup applicator art relate to brushes with interchangeable heads; brushes using various mixtures of bristles, brushes intended primarily for eyeshadow application; and, brushes that twist on or twist off the handle. Makeup brushes come in all shapes and sizes.

Brushes with very specific shapes make up but a small area of the prior art. The Cole U.S. Pat. No. 7,950,402 discloses a unique concave brush head for eye shadow application. The top surface of the tuft is concave. The only specific shape patent known to applicant is Dorf, U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,532 which is specifically for eyeliner application. Neither of these references alone or in combination anticipates this invention.

This invention comprises a crescent shaped brush head which easily mates with the contours of the human face, and forehead, and chin area. The brush head and a ferrule to maintain the desired configuration of the brush head are mounted on a handle of any conventional shape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a dual function makeup brush. By having a crescent shape, the brush can be used to apply makeup to the curved areas of the human face, the cheeks, the chin, and the forehead. And, by having pointed cross section terminii, the brush can be used to put eyeliner or mascara in the corner of the human eye without smearing the cosmetic. Thus 2 functions.

It is a first object of this invention to provide a makeup applicator that has a crescent shaped cross section.

It is a second object o provide a makeup applicator that conforms to the curvatures of the human face.

It is a third object to provide a makeup brush that can apply cosmetic to the corners of the human eye e without smearing.

It is a fourth object to provide these brushes in various sizes to meet the individual needs and desires of the user.

It is a fifth object to provide a makeup brush that applies cosmetic uniformly on the facial area where it is being used.

It is a sixth object to provide a makeup brush with a crown shaped ferrule to retain the bristles in the desired crescent configuration.

It is a seventh object to provide a makeup brush having a crescent shaped ferrule.

It is a eighth object to provide a crescent shaped makeup brush that can be unscrewed from its handle for replacement of the brush head on the old handle.

A ninth object is to provide a cosmetic brush having a ferrule shaped like an interrupted cylinder wherein the interruption is a concave section that narrowingly decreases longitudinally from the top of the ferrule cylinder to the bottom of the ferrule cylinder.

It is a further object to provide a crescent shaped makeup brush in various sizes for different uses.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings

The invention accordingly comprises the device possessing the features, properties and the relation of components which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the first embodiment of the makeup brush of this invention.

FIG. 1.1 is a front elevational view thereof.

FIG. 1.2 is a right side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 1.3 is a right side top perspective view of this first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the brush of this invention's first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the bristle tuft used in the brush of the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the entire brush of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the brush of FIG. 4 with a detachable head.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a first ferrule useable in this invention's first embodiment, which ferrule has a rounded tab section rear face.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a second ferrule, which has a cupcake shaped tab rear face useable in this invention's first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a third ferrule which has a chamfered corner square tab rear face and is useable with this invention's first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of of the ferrule shown in FIGS. 6.

FIG. 10 depicts the handle alone which is shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 depicts an alternate handle that may be either integrated to the brush head or as shown a separate screw in handle intended to receive the brush head depicted in FIG. 5.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a crescent shape makeup brush head with a crescent shaped ferrule disposed in a handle which has a round cross section.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a makeup brush having a crescent shaped ferrule which forms the second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the third embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 15 is a rear elevational view of the handle and ferrule of the third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of the crescent shaped brush head of the third embodiment.

FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C illustrate three different cosmetic brushes of varying length and width according to this invention for both the brush head and the handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following discussion, the designator numerals used for particular parts or elements of the invention will be used consistently with respect to all figures present and throughout the discussion herein.

Let us now turn to FIG. 1. Here the front view of the first embodiment of the makeup brush of this invention 10 is seen. Brush 10 comprises a brush head of a crescent shape in horizontal cross section, attached by a ferrule 13 to a handle 15. Here the handle is rod shaped of any suitable length. However any conventional elongated brush handle may be used including those having tapering sides with continuing reduced cross sections. The ferrule overlays and is attached to the distal end of the handle. The formation of the crescent shaped brush head will be discussed infra. To form the crescent shape, a round in horizontal cross section brush head of uniform height bristles or hairs is employed. A tab on a ferrule applies constant pressure-like crimping, but not exactly-, to the bristles and thus reconfigures the head to an arcuate one. By limiting the number of upstanding bristles on the termii of the arc a point can be created at each end of he arc to create a crescent with points at each extreme. Since FIGS. 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 are added merely to enhance the understanding of FIG. 1, further discussion thereof is not needed.

In FIG. 2, a rear view of the first embodiment brush where the recess of the brush head of this embodiment is seen and designated 12. The recess to achieve the crescent shape is provided by the pressure of the tab portion 21 of the ferrule 13. This tab 21 is attached to the ferrule ring 19 which holds the individual bristles closely so as to prevent them from coming loose. As can be seen the ferrule is also attached to the handle 15 and the hidden portion of the handle designated 16 is disposed within the ferrule.

Tab 21 may be any suitable shape along its rear face such as those shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. The front area of the tab as seen in FIG. 10 is however arcuate. For ease of understanding, an analogy can be drawn between the configuration of the FIG. 6 tab and a human thumb. The nail side of the thumb corresponds to the rear face of the tab designated 22A and as here is arcuate & flat. The forward part of a human thumb where the crease is, is rounded as is the forward face of the tab 21 designated 21AA. Thus the tab can be said to have a thumb-like cross section. It is this tab 21's forward face 21AA, that applies the pressure to the individual bristles adjacent face 21AA of the tab to create the crescent shape by being disposed forwardly from about 10 to about 30 degrees from the vertical face of the ferrule ring. See FIG. 6.

While FIG. 10 illustrates the two faces of the tab of FIG. 6, the tabs of FIGS. 7 & 8 would have the same side view appearance and act in like manner.

As seen in FIG. 2, the ends or points of the crescent are designated 22A and 22B. These points are used to apply cosmetic or medicaments to the corner of the eye, without applying the material to other undesired areas of the face.

As can be seen in both FIGS. 1 and 2, the brush head is flat across at the distal end o the tuft. Unlike other brushes which are round or are filbert shaped, the brush head of this invention is flat in cross section. See designator 22. This is demonstrated by reference to FIG. 3, a top plan view of only the tuft and tab.

In FIG. 4, we see a perspective view of the first embodiment of the crescent shaped makeup brush of this invention. All elements therein have been previously discussed.

FIG. 5 shows a brush head 23 substantially similar to the one seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. However here the brush head is designated 23, since this brush head includes a male threaded shaft attached to a disk unseen in this view, which disk is disposed within the confines of the ferrule by conventional means such as by welding, use of an adhesive or frictional crimping. The uniformly diameter separate handle 25 includes a female threaded area 26 sized to receive and engage the threads 24 for mounting of the brush head 23 upon handle 26. This threaded area may be made directly in the handle if the handle is plastic or wood or metal, But preferably a metal, disk having a female threaded center opening is conventionally attached to a wood or plastic handle to provide more rigidity and less tendency for the female threads to become stripped after periodic removal and re-application of the brush head to the handle. The attachment of such a threaded disk to a shaft of wood or plastic is within the skill of the art.

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 can all be considered together. All three views show a ferrule ring 19 having various cosmetic configurations of tabs thereon that are useable in the first embodiment. Tab 21A is arcuate at the top with straight descending sides that intersect the ring 19. Tab 21B is cupcake shaped and FIG. 8 has a chamfered corner rectangular tab 21C attached to the ferrule ring 19.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the ferrule shown in FIGS. 6. The fact is that the tab 21 can have any suitable configuration on its front face, in conjunction with a convex surface on its rear face. Also note that the tab 21 as seen in FIG. 9 is bent forward against the bristles to add pressure to the center bristles to thereby create the recess of the crescent shaped brush head. The corners of the crescent shaped head are formed by lessening the number of individual bristles at the very ends of each side of the crescent brush head.

FIG. 10 illustrates the shaft like straight sided handle 33 seen in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 11 a tapered handle 33 is seen, which handle may be made of wood or plastic, with a metal female threaded disk 34 attached by adhesive at the wider end of the tapered shaft.

FIGS. 12 and 13 pertain to a second embodiment of this invention. Rather than using a convex faced tab to create a concave recess in a brush head, this second embodiment employs a crescent shaped ferrule which is seen to be disposed in a round handle. Other shapes of handle are also suitable for this second embodiment. If desired the handle can be tapered toward its upper edge to provide a smoother transition aesthetically toward the crescent shaped ferrule. The handle may be made of metal, wood or plastic in the second embodiment as well as in the third embodiment the discussion of which is infra.

Turning now to FIG. 12 cosmetic brush 110 is seen. This brush has a handle 115 to which is attached at its upper or distal end a ferrule 113. This ferrule 113 has a tubular shaped base portion 113A having a tab comprising a crescent shaped upper portion, 113B, attached thereto and upstanding therefrom. The ferrule base may be made of metal, or preferably of plastic; and the upper portion 113B is preferably of metal such as steel or aluminum or it may be rigid plastic. The base 113A may be conventionally molded around the upper portion 113B, which is the crescent shaped preferably metal portion, which in the figure is shown partially disposed within the base portion.

Brush head 111 has a plurality of bristles 117 arranged in a crescent configuration and held within the confines of the base portion of the ferrule 113A. The proximal ends of the individual hairs may be glued adjacent to one another into the base portion adjacent the similarly configured upper portion of the ferrule, or the bristles can be merely frictionally retained by the pressure and position of the upper portion of the ferrule. Brush head 111 has a flat upper surface 118 on its crescent configuration.

In this FIG. 12, the brush head is behind the upper portion of the ferrule 113B, and the tufts are of a greater elevation than the said upper portion 113B. It is suggested that the elevation difference be about one inch to avoid the possibility of scraping one's face with the upper metal or plastic portion of the ferrule.

In FIG. 13, is a top plan view of the cosmetic brush of FIG. 12, wherein the crescent configuration of the brush head is seen adjacent the crescent ferrule upper or pressure portion 113B, and the base portion of the ferrule 113A is also seen. Since the handle 115 is of smaller circumference than the base of the ferrule, it is unseen, since the handle is seen in is disposed in the ferrule.

Let us now turn to the third embodiment seen in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 and designated 210. Here too, the parts are given numerical designators in the 200 series. Here handle 215 is seen to have a slightly reduced upper threaded end 215A which is threadedly engaged to matching female threads disposed within the ferrule 213's lower proximal portion 238. Ferrule 213 is a partially interrupted tubular member having an upside down finger-like concave indentation 239 on one face of the ferrule. More specifically the indentation 239 commences at the distal end of the ferrule 213 and tapers downwardly inwardly to an arcuate bottom edge, such that indentation 239 has a longitudinally declining horizontal measurement relative to the balance of the ferrule. The indentation 239 exerts a pressure on the central area 241 of the brush head 220 to create the crescent shape brush head desired.

The term partially interrupted is used to describe the ferrule because as can be seen in the figures, the indentation does not extend down to the proximal end of the ferrule, but stops just short thereof. The choice of brush head is important in this invention. A round in cross section brush head having a flat top is preferred such that the various means employed on the ferrule can splay the bristles of the round head into a crescent shaped head.

FIG. 15 is a rear view of the ferrule 213 of FIG. 14 disposed on handle 215. Engaging end 215A is seen disposed in proximal portion 238 of the ferrule. As can seen in this rear view, FIG. 15, the tubular portion of the ferrule is un-interrupted in contrast to FIG. 13. Since this is a rear view the crescent is seen to be reversed from FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the crescent shaped brush head 220 having pointed ends 218 and a flat top or distal edge. It is within the skill of the art to determine the number of bristles or hairs to place at the two outer edges to achieve the desired crescent shaped brush head as opposed to an arcuate shaped brush head. The same natural or man made materials recited may be used in all three embodiments of the invention. Note that in FIGS. 14 and 16 designator 241 corresponds to the area of pressure of the indentation portion of the ferrule.

The hairs or bristles of the brushes of this invention may be synthetic ones, made from the extrusion of polybutylene terephthalate or polyamide. The hairs can also be natural such as from a squirrel, a goat, a boar, a ferret or horse. Preferably all of the hairs or bristles employed herein should be of the same diameter to ensure even wear of the brush head. These hairs are soft to the touch and possess surface irregularities called cuticles, which enable the hairs to trap particles of makeup such as face powder, foundation and rouge.

When applying makeup the user spreads a thin layer with the tip of the brush contacting the skin surface in stroking motions. The big benefit of the crescent shape is that the tip of the brush of any size is so shaped that it contours to the curvature of the face, neck, chin and forehead of the user, thereby ensuring smooth even coverage of the makeup to the intended surface.

While an arcuate shape might carry out this desired effect, the true crescent also has the benefit of allowing the user to apply eye makeup to the corner of the eye with just the tip of the crescent and thus avoid smearing of the eye makeup. This is not possible with an arcuate shape brush head which would have a much large rounded end at each terminus of the brush head.

As noted earlier the brushes of this invention can be made in various sizes. Sizing can vary both in elevation of the bristles and the diameter of the crescent from point to point. Width (diameter) can vary from about 0.5 inches to 1.25 inches. Bristle elevation can also vary from about 0.5 inches to 1.50 inches. As to the handles, a face/neck powder brush will range from 4.5 inches to about 6 inches in length; while a multipurpose blush brushes would be about 2 inches to 3 inches in length while an eye shadow brush would be long and thin at about 5 inches to 6 inches in length, but only about ¼ inch in diameter versus about ¾ inch in diameter for the handle of the other two brushes. Thus reference is made to FIGS. 17A-17C wherein the relative sizes of a face/neck powder brush is seen in FIG. 17A; a much smaller brush head and handle are seen in FIG. 17B which brush is used for eye shadow, and a shorter but wider handle brush with the desired brush head used for facial blush is seen in FIG. 17C.

It is to be noted that for the first embodiment, a conventional round brush head with a flattened top surface can be employed because the tab 21 applies pressure to the bristles to form a crescent shape, when the bristles at the terminii are reduced in number, as opposed to forming a mere arcuate shape. But in the second embodiment a specific shaped ferrule and a specific shaped brush head are employed. Embodiment 3 also uses a specific shaped ferrule, but of a different configuration than in embodiment 2.

Since certain changes may be made in the above devices without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense 

1. A cosmetic brush, comprising in combination an elongated handle having a ferrule thereon, said ferrule including a means to apply pressure to a generally round in horizontal cross section brush head of upstanding bristles, all of which are of the same elevation, to create a crescent shaped brush head.
 2. The cosmetic brush of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the ferrule overlays one end of the handle, and the distal end of the ferrule includes a tab having a thumb-like cross section disposed at an angle to impact the bristles and spread them into an arcuate configuration.
 3. The cosmetic brush of claim 2 wherein the tab has a thumb-like horizontal cross section.
 4. The cosmetic brush of claim 3 wherein the outer face of the tab has an arcuate top edge.
 5. The cosmetic brush of claim 3 wherein the outer face of the tab has a chamfered square top edge.
 6. The cosmetic brush of claim 3 wherein the outer face of the tab resembles a cupcake.
 7. A cosmetic brush, comprising in combination an elongated handle having a ferrule thereon, said ferrule being made of a material selected from metal and plastic, and which ferrule includes a means to apply pressure to a generally round in horizontal cross section brush head of upstanding bristles, all of which are of the same elevation, to create a crescent shaped brush head, said bristles being selected from the group consisting of animal hair and polybutylene terephthalate and polyamide.
 8. A cosmetic brush comprising an elongated handle to which is attached at its upper or distal end, a ferrule comprising a ring shaped base portion having a crescent shaped upper tab attached thereto and upstanding therefrom, and a plurality of bristles formed into a crescent shaped brush head disposed in the ferrule adjacent the crescent shaped upper portion of the ferrule, wherein a convex face of the tab abuts and contacts a concave face of the brush head, and wherein the elevation of the plurality of bristles is greater than the elevation of the ferrule tab.
 9. The cosmetic brush of claim 8 wherein all of the bristles are of the same elevation.
 10. The cosmetic brush of claim 9 wherein the bristles are selected from the group consisting of animal hair and polybutylene terephthalate and polyamide.
 11. A cosmetic brush comprising an elongated tapered handle to which is attached at its upper or distal end, a metal ferrule comprising a ring shaped base portion having a crescent shaped upper tab attached thereto and upstanding therefrom, and a plurality of bristles of uniform elevation, formed into a crescent shaped brush head disposed in the ferrule adjacent the crescent shaped upper tab of the ferrule, wherein a convex face of the tab abuts and contacts a concave face of the brush head, and wherein the elevation of the plurality of bristles is greater than the elevation of the ferrule tab.
 12. A cosmetic brush, comprising in combination an elongated handle having a ferrule thereon, said handle having a threaded distal end engaging a lower threaded proximal portion of said ferrule, said ferrule being a partially interrupted tubular member, the interruption being a concave indentation that commences at the distal end of the ferrule and tapers downwardly inwardly to an arcuate bottom edge, such that the indentation has a longitudinally declining horizontal measurement relative to the balance of the ferrule; and wherein the indentation exerts a pressure on the central area of the brush head to thereby define a crescent shaped brush head.
 13. A cosmetic brush as in claim 12 wherein the handle is tapered narrowing downwardly and has a metallic ferrule thereon, and the bristles of the brush head are animal hair.
 14. The cosmetic brush of claim 12 wherein the brush head has a flat top surface.
 15. A cosmetic brush of any size having a handle connected to a ferrule, the ferrule containing a brush head having a flat top surface, and which brush head is impinged upon by the ferrule to define a crescent shaped brush head, having fewer bristles at its terminii than in the balance of the brush head. 